Sufi orders
formed in the ninth and tenth centuries as spiritual movements to bypass the
legalism of the Ulema and the worldliness and luxury of the caliphate. At a
time when Islam was becoming dogmatic, claiming that Muhammad’s religion was
the only true faith and that the Qur’an was the only valid scripture, Sufis saw
God everywhere, even in pagan traditions. At a time when the Ulema had closed
the gates of Ijtihad, regarding revelation as complete, Sufis sought new
revelations from God. At a time when the Ulema preached a God of law, Sufis
spoke of God as love....

The Sufis: Islam’s Anti-Terrorists

Islamic Society

Sufi orders
formed in the ninth and tenth centuries as spiritual movements to bypass the
legalism of the Ulema and the worldliness and luxury of the caliphate. At a
time when Islam was becoming dogmatic, claiming that Muhammad’s religion was
the only true faith and that the Qur’an was the only valid scripture, Sufis saw
God everywhere, even in pagan traditions. At a time when the Ulema had closed
the gates of Ijtihad, regarding revelation as complete, Sufis sought new
revelations from God. At a time when the Ulema preached a God of law, Sufis
spoke of God as love....